Are you nervous about your upcoming pelvic floor therapy appointment? Read on to understand exactly what to expect.
At long last, pelvic floor therapy is getting the attention it deserves as an effective solution for incontinence, intimacy concerns, and chronic pain. However most people are still unsure of what to expect once they have decided to seek pelvic floor therapy care.
Here is a guide from Tampa’s best rated pelvic floor therapist on what to expect when you have an upcoming pelvic floor therapy appointment.
We will tell you about:
1. How can I set up a pelvic floor therapy appointment?
2. What happens during my first pelvic floor therapy appointment?
3. What should I wear during for a pelvic floor therapy appointment?
4. Is an internal pelvic exam necessary for pelvic floor therapy?
5. What happens during an internal pelvic examination?
6. Will I be given exercises or other recommendation to practice at home?
How can I set up a pelvic floor therapy appointment?
Those seeking pelvic floor therapy in Tampa, Florida, do not need a doctor’s or other medical provider’s referral or script to receive pelvic floor therapy care from a pelvic health occupational therapist or pelvic health physical therapist. Once you have decided to seek pelvic floor therapy care, you can perform a google search to find pelvic floor therapists closest to you, and pick one based on the patient feedback they have received through google reviews. You can click here to read why our patients leave us consistent 5-star reviews, making us the best-rated pelvic specialty practice in Tampa!
You can also use the national registry PelvicRehab.com to find a pelvic floor therapist in your area. Whichever way you decide to proceed, be sure to give the pelvic floor therapy practice a call and talk to the provider to assess if they are a good fit for your needs.
While we treat all pelvic health conditions in women & men, we specialize in pelvic pain, sexual concerns, and birth preparation. Contact us today to claim your complimentary 15-minute phone consultation.
What happens during my first pelvic floor therapy appointment?
Every pelvic floor therapy practice has their own procedures. At Pelvic Soul, we send our clients electronic paperwork that they can complete at their convenience before coming in for the initial evaluation or assessment appointment. This allows for our treating pelvic floor therapist to accurately review your medical history, surgical history, any medications or supplements you may be on, and other medically relevant information at the beginning of your appointment.
Once a review of your medical history and pelvic health concerns is complete, our pelvic floor therapist completes a full body assessment to check what other parts of your body demonstrate sub-optimal function. Very rarely is a pelvic floor issue, isolated to the pelvis. In most cases, individuals show decreased strength and/or flexibility in their spine, hips, ribs or neck, which can contribute to poor compensatory patterns in the pelvis – which in turn can cause issues like leaking or pain.
After the external assessment is complete, your pelvic floor therapist will set up the treatment area to allow for an examination of the pelvis internally – through the vagina or the rectum – based on the patient’s gender and individual complaints. Your pelvic therapist will leave the exam room to allow you to undress from the waist down to prepare for the next stage of the evaluation process.
You will be provided with a clean, sterile surface to lay on, and a sterile drape to cover yourself with once you have undressed for the internal pelvic exam.
What should I wear during for a pelvic floor therapy appointment?
The short answer is – whatever you’re comfortable in! If you’re open to receiving an internal pelvic exam, you will be asked to undress your lower body anyway. If you’re not comfortable with an internal pelvic exam during your first visit, your pelvic floor therapist can still assess you fully clothed. While this does not give an ideal picture of pelvic floor muscle function, it is often good enough to start a treatment plan for your concerns. In such cases, wearing loose-fitting or elastic lower body clothing like a dress, skirt, workout shorts or leggings are ideal to allow for easy hip & pelvic movement while being clothed.
You do not have shave your legs or bikini area for the pelvic exam. You also do not have to perform any specific pelvic or vulvar hygiene for your pelvic floor therapy visit. An internal pelvic exam is easily completed when someone is experiencing menstrual bleeding. It is entirely up to the patient if they wish to receive internal pelvic floor care while on their period.
Is an internal pelvic exam necessary for pelvic floor therapy?
The short answer is – no! Some patients are not comfortable with an internal pelvic exam during their first, or any, pelvic floor therapy visits. The reasons can widely vary from having a history of pain with gynecological exams, being of the opposite gender or sexual orientation, having a history of trauma, or being conscious of vaginal bleeding or discharge.
Whatever may be the case, you should be able to receive pelvic floor therapy care without an internal pelvic assessment. A skilled pelvic floor therapist should be able to develop an effective pelvic health treatment plan based on your medical history, external full body assessment, assessment of your core & pelvic function through external hands-on assessment. 
At our practice, we allow our patients to guide as regarding their readiness for internal pelvic exam & treatment. We have successfully treated people of all genders who either deferred until a later date or altogether declined internal pelvic examination and treatment.
If you’re pregnant and seeking pelvic floor therapy, an internal pelvic exam ca safely be performed if you’re not on pelvic rest – meaning, you are cleared for participating in sexual intimacy and exercise.
What happens during an internal pelvic examination?
The internal pelvic exam is much gentler than typical exams received during gynecological or urology care. A Internal pelvic floor therapy exam is conducted without using stirrups or a speculum, with the patient comfortably lying on their back. The pelvic floor therapist will likely ask you to bend your hips and knees to allow for a clear view of the external genital region. 
For female patients, the pelvic floor therapist will examine the above labelled structures for any abnormalities using a visual exam and through touch with a gloved finger. The pelvic floor therapist is typically checking for an tissue changes like scarring or atrophy, any increased sensitivity causing pain, and for any tightness or laxity that can cause incontinence and other issues.
Following the external genital exam, the therapist will ask permission to check the internal pelvic floor muscles through the vagina or rectum. A rectal exam is typically used for male patients, or patients who may be experiencing severe tailbone pain, chronic constipation or dyssynergic defecation. For the patient’s ease, our pelvic floor therapist, Sujata Martin, offers the option of using a handheld mirror to see the exam as it progresses. She also verbally explains each step of the exam to allow for comfort and ease of mind for the patient.
During the internal pelvic floor exam, our pelvic floor therapist check for any trigger points that may be present in the pelvic floor. If any are found, these will be treated through myofascial release and gentle trigger point release therapy. The therapist will also check for pelvic floor strength and coordination by asking you to perform a series of contractions & relaxations of the pelvic floor muscles.
If you’re a man looking for pelvic floor therapy services, please watch the video below to understand how the pelvic exam is slightly altered for our male patients.
Will I be given exercises or other recommendation to practice at home?
At Pelvic Soul, we firmly believe that we are partners in care of our patients. This means that we will provide the best treatment based in latest advances in pelvic health to all our patients is the clinic, and , we advise patients in healing their concerns through a structured home exercise program.
You will be provided recommendations for your home program in writing or via email starting from your first visit. Your home program recommendations will likely include a combination of physical exercises, stretching routines, diet modifications, instruction in toileting mechanics, mindfulness practices, and pelvic floor strength & flexibility exercises. You will also have the option of contacting us in between visits through email and/or text messaging with any questions you may have about this program.
By allowing you to be in control of your progress, we can help you achieve lasting relief from your leaking and pain concerns faster!
We hope this article has given you a good overview of what to expect during your first pelvic floor therapy appointment. If you want to learn more, be sure to read the other helpful articles in our blog or head to our YouTube channel for video tutorials of healthy pelvic floor habits.
